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Interview
by Klam Meraffe
12-6-2004
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| Ray Charles: the legend of every genre |
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Ray Charles: In memoriam
Mr Charles’s tributes and 'Ray' flick
Ray Charles has died of liver disease at his Los Angeles home at 73.
Ray Charles Robinson was born in Albany, Georgia and lost his sight when he was seven after contracting glaucoma. He learned to read music in Braille at Florida school For The Blind. Charles joined hillbilly band when he was 15 after his mother died. His first recording contract came at 19, but he was 24 before he had his first hit with ‘It Should Have Been Me’.
Ray Charles, who dropped surname to avoid confusion with the boxing champ Sugar Ray Robinson, won 12 Grammys, the first being ‘Georgia On My Mind’, back in 1960. Probably his signature tune, his other hits include ‘What I’d Say’, and ’Baby It’s Cold Outside’. Charles was given probation in 1964 for heroin possession that led to him giving up the drug, which he’d been addicted to since the time he’d signed his original contract in 1949. Among last big hits was - fairly ironically entitled - ‘Let’s Get Stoned’, the following year. But, following further quintet of Top 30 smashers in the USA - the highest, #15, being ‘Here We Go Again’, the hits dried out.
Charles carried on performing and recording until shortly before his passing. His last public appearance was in April. When he cancelled a tour last year with a back problem, it was the first time he’d scrapped any show in over 50 performing years.
Before his death, his record company Concord have scheduled a duets album, 'Genius Loves Company', starring Elton John, Willie Nelson and Norah Jones for the 30 August release.
Ray Charles leaves nine children, all with ex-wife Della.
Friends, colleagues and peers salute the legendary Charles.
"Ray could kick my ass any day in a chess game," noted country star Willie Nelson, who recorded 'It Was a Very Good Year' with Charles for the upcoming duets album 'Genius Loves Company', due 31 August. "I lost one of my best friends and I will miss him a lot."
Country singer Marty Stuart added:" People remember the big hits and the visual image of him, but they forget what an innovator he was in the 1950s as a jazz musician."
His former manager Joe Adams said: "He wanted the world to know that he will miss the chance to entertain his many family and friends, as he had done, up until last summer, for the past 58 years."
Michael Jackson called him an “American treasure”, saying - “His music is timeless, his contribution to the music industry unequalled, unparalleled.”
Stevie Wonder mourned “an incredible musician, singer, writer and a great man” whose life should be celebrated.
Neil Sedaka described Charles as “my idol”, while legendary songwriter Hal David of Bacharach and David called him “one of the great interpreters” of all time.
Jerry Wexler, a producer and former vice president of Atlantic Records, described Charles as taking the "music of the church [and putting] the devil's words to it."
"Ray Charles is one of the all-time greats," Alicia Keys said in a statement. "It saddens me that we have lost him. Who will we turn to now for inspiration? I can't help but feel that soon all the greats will be gone. We really have to appreciate them while they're here. In mourning Mr. Charles, it's comforting to remember that the beauty and musicianship will live on forever in every piece of work he's contributed to the world. His legacy is forever, and I will always cherish it."
"There will never be another musician who did as much to break down the perceived wall of musical genres as much as Ray Charles did," read a statement from producer Quincy Jones [the pair had been friends since 1947]. "I truly have no words to express the deep sadness that I have today. Ray Charles was my oldest friend, my brother in every sense of the word and bigger than life - a musical genius who made every song he performed his own."
Justin Timberlake, a benefactor of Charles' crossover inroads, was more succinct in his praise for the music legend. "Ever since I started listening to music, Ray Charles has been my idol," his statement read. "I send my deepest condolences to his family."
Producer Jermaine Dupri was shocked to hear of Charles' passing. "I'm kind of blown away by the news," he said. "It's definitely something I'm hating to know happened. ... When anybody who's blind or [disabled] can take their talents to an even higher level, it's just remarkable. He touches me by being one of the most remarkable people ever."
"Ray Charles was one of the greatest giants of our time, before our time, and after our time," Wyclef Jean said. "Telling me Ray Charles died is the equivalent of telling me Martin Luther King died. Not only was he a musician, he was a revolutionary and a fighter. He uplifted the black race. He's no longer here physically, but spiritually and musically he'll always be remembered."
In addition to artistic admiration, the Roots' ?uestlove respected Charles' groundbreaking business savvy. "He was a pioneer in that modern-day struggle to control your music," the drummer said. "In fact, he himself, not his lawyer, negotiated his recording rights [with ABC], and he's one of the few artists who owned all his masters. For a black man in those times, that's unheard of. I take inspiration from that."
"It is a big loss to America," singer Patti LaBelle said in a statement. "Although I knew him as a friend, he was nice to everyone. And even though he was blind, he saw people in his own special way. We've lost a great angel."
Soul legend Candi Staton reflects on the passing of soul music icon:
"I'm broken hearted. I'm just shocked. He was my favourite singer of all time. I used to listen to him when I was a teenager and it was a dream come true, to share a stage with him when I became an artist myself. I knew he was sick but I had no idea it would be this soon. His soul is my prayers."
Staton last saw Charles in person when they both appeared on David Gest's ‘Miracle on 24th Street’ concert at Madison Square Garden in December 2002.
“I'm so thankful that David Gets brought us back together again. David booked us both on that concert and I went up and knocked on Ray's dressing room door and told him who it was. He told me to come in and we had a great time catching up. He asked me to walk him to the stage and I did. He held on to me really tight and wouldn't let me go. I'm so thankful I got to see him again before he passed."
Staton first performed with Charles in 1976 when she opened for him at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. "My heart is just breaking," she continues. "The world has lost a one-of-a-kind singer and a one-of-a-kind man. Nobody can replace Ray Charles. His absence leaves a huge hole in the music business."
Staton's recent Astralwerks/Honest Jons/EMI CD ‘Candi Staton’, a reissue of her 1969-1973 Muscle Shoals southern soul recordings, has brought her name back to pop music prominence after a decade in the gospel music field. Staton is best-known for her 1976 million-seller ‘Young Hearts Run Free’ and the multi-platinum single ‘You Got the Love’ that was featured in the finale episode of HBO's ‘Sex and the City’.
Ms Staton is paying a rare visit to London this October.
~ ~ ~
Jamie Foxx, who will portray Mr Charles in the upcoming movie ‘Ray’, found out firsthand that all the accolades heaped upon Charles by peers, friends and admirers were accurate.
"Everything that's been said about Ray Charles is true: He was a genius, a legend and an inspiration to generations of people all over the world. I'm honored to be chosen to portray him. He will be missed forever but never forgotten."
Klam Meraffe
12-6-2004
Ray Charles b. 23 Sept. 1930 - d. 10 June 2004
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